I am using a 5-star rating system, which appears at the end of each review; here’s the key to the stars:
5 = Outstanding … 4.5 = Excellent … 4 = Very Good … 3.5 = Good … 3 = Average
5 = Outstanding … 4.5 = Excellent … 4 = Very Good … 3.5 = Good … 3 = Average
Key: Wine colour indicators - Red are red wines, Yellow are whites, etc.
The Foci … Aussie Cabs, Chards and Shiraz (AC2S), Italian Whites (IW) and Dad (DAD)
The Skinny … Seems to be a light week for good wine, but once again I’ll give you the skinny on the good ones to buy.
Australia …
Domaine Tournon 2011 Mathilda Shiraz ($19.95 - #327395) – clearly smoky and meaty come through on the French/Australian joint venture, thought more French then Oz. (****) – AC2S
Grant Burge 2010 The Holy Trinity Greneche/Shiraz/Mourvedre ($29.95 - #236257) – red fruit and herbal notes come together with finesse and delicacy yet shows muscle mid-palate. (****) – AC2S
Mitolo 2010 GAM Shiraz ($39.95 - #596031) – smoky, meaty, mocha with accents of dark fruit and nice acid backbone. (****) – AC2S
Trust 2010 Shiraz ($25.95 - #371468) – Eucalyptus, black cherry, violet and mocha. (****) – AC2S
Wynns Coonawarra Estate 2010 Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon ($27.95 - #084996) – pleasant creaminess of chocolate with nice acidity black currant, blackberry, mocha. (****+) – AC2S
Wild River 2011 Pinot Noir ($21.95 - #376244) – nicely fruit forward with cherry and dusty mineral, plum and spice. (*** ½+)
Canada (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review
Creekside 2013 Cabernet Rosé ($15.95 - #048819) - *** ½+
Creekside 2010 Laura’s Red ($19.95 - #117960) - ****
Konzelmann 2012 Heritage ($26.95 - #149179) - ****
Malivoire 2012 Pinot Gris ($19.95 - #591305) - *** ½+
Su-Ann Staff 2012 Loved By Lu Riesling ($16.95 - #322636) - *** ½+
Thirty Bench 2011 Red ($24.00 - #320986) - *** ½+ - DAD
Chile …
I Latina 2010 Syrah ($22.95 - #371120) – nice minty and smoky notes, hints of chocolate / caramel and black fruit. (*** ½+)
Morande 2009 Gran Reserva Carmenere ($20.95 - #371112) – plenty of mint and blackberry, touch of vanilla with raspberry, cherry and sweet blueberry. (****)
France (Alsace) …
Arthur Metz Brut Prestige Cremant D’Alsace ($19.95 - #369116) – green apple and lemon, good acidity with lively bubble and long finish. (****)
France (Bordeaux) …
Chateau Roc St-Michel 2009 ($28.95 - #366369) – starts off toasty but mocha and blackberry creeps in. (*** ½+)
France (Burgundy) …
Pierre Andre 2010 Volnay ($35.95 - #365072) – nice tannins, cherry, black raspberry, earthy and herbal. (****)
France (Loire) …
Chavet & Fils 2012 La Dame de Jacques Coeur Menetou-Salon Blanc ($19.95 - #525048) – touch of melon and apple blossom subtle yet enjoyable. (*** ½+)
Langlois-Chateau Brut Cremant de Loire ($21.95 - #996272) – biscuit, lemon drop and mac apple; real pleasant. (*** ½+)
France (Midi) …
Carignanissime de Centeilles 2010 ($18.95 - #041913) – sweet fruited to its core; a real slug it back and enjoy around the BBQ kinda wine. (****)
Domaine Gardies Les Milleres 2011 ($24.95 - #370205) – mocha, blackberry, black cherry, plum, vanilla, dark chocolate; flavourful and seductive with good tannin backing. (****+)
France (Provence) …
Carte Noir 2013 Rosé ($17.95 - #319384) – dry and delicate; lavender and apricot notes with herbal backing and a nice long finish. (****)
France (Rhone) …
E. Guigal 2012 Cotes du Rhone Blanc ($18.95 - #290266) – wet stone, peach pit, floral notes with citrus pith. (*** ½+)
Germany …
Konigschaffhauser Vulkanfelsen 2013 Pinot Noir Rosé Trocken ($13.95 - #168237) – pleasant and easy drinking, raspberry dominated. (*** ½)
Italy (Campania) …
Fontanavecchia Taburno Falanghina del Sannio 2012 ($18.95 - #375287) – citrus, pear and floral; pleasing on the palate. (*** ½+) – IW
Terredora di Paola Loggio della Serra Greco di Tufo 2012 ($20.95 - #983197) – apple skin, wet stone and peach pit with a long finish. (****) – IW
Italy (Piedmont) …
Pio Cesare 2011 Barbera D’Alba ($24.95 - #938886) – rich dark fruit, cassis with blackberry and black cherry. (*** ½+)
San Silvestro Fossili 2012 Gavi di Gavi ($16.95 - #368753) – citrus with a mineral seam along with zesty and rindy notes. (*** ½+) – IW
Italy (Puglia) …
Leone de Castris 2010 Riserva Salice Salentino ($19.95 - #597534) – sweetness of plum and black cherry all nicely spiced. (****)
Italy (Veneto) …
La Cappuccina 2013 Soave ($15.95 - #081489) – crisp and refreshing showing grapefruit zest and melon rind. (*** ½+) – IW
New Zealand …
Loveblock 2012 Sauvignon Blanc ($29.95 - #366310) – typical but still tasty, grass dominated with grapefruit backing. (*** ½+)
South Africa …
Delheim 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon ($18.95 - #981357) – pleasant dark and red fruit mix with nice oak balance. (*** ½+)
Spain …
Borsao 2011 Tres Picos Garnacha ($19.95 - #273748) – rich and juicy red berries with blueberry and cherry, very quaffable with all its sweet fruit. (****)
Breca 2010 Old Vines Garnacha ($19.95 - #329086) – complex and tasty; black fruit and mineral mingle with big alcohol and big flavour profile all at an impressive price. (****+)
United States (California) …
Artesa 2012 Chardonnay ($24.95 - #657585) – has the Cali-Chard flavours down pat with oak, vanilla, toasted apple and touches of spice. (****)
Ferrari-Carano 2012 Fume Blanc ($22.95 - #354993) – vanilla, lemon grass, pineapple tropicality; comes across as a Chardonnay with plenty of acidity. (****)
Geyser Peak 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.95 - #343467) – nice balance of juicy smoothness, black fruit with a chocolate interior. (****)
Marimar Estate 2009 Mas Cavalls Pinot Noir ($42.95 - #368316) – lots of California appeal with richness of plum and cherry with pomegranate backing. (*** ½+)
Smith-Madrone 2011 Chardonnay ($39.95 - #363556) – muscle and finesse meet in the glass, it’s a bruiser and a tasty one at that. (****)
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In-Store Discoveries – wines that just appear on the shelves of your local Vintages outlet …
Bassermann-Jordan 2008 Deidesheimer-Hohenmorgen Riesling Auslese ($54.95 - #377515) – Germany - ****+
Burrowing Owl 2010 Athene ($44.95 - #371336) – British Columbia - Canada ****+
Raymond 2009 Red Room Red ($150.00 - #369264) – California, USA - ****
If You Can Afford It – wines worth their high price …
Ridge 2011 Geyserville ($52.95 - #723072) - ****+ (DAD)
What I’ll Be Lining Up For – June 7, 2014 …
Arthur Metz Brut Prestige Cremant D’Alsace ($19.95 - #0369116) – France
Breca 2010 Old Vines Garnacha ($19.95 - #329086) – Spain
Domaine Gardies Les Milleres 2011 ($24.95 - #370205) – France
Happy Shopping
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